‘Last chance’ for drugs offender

Selkirk Sheriff Court

A drugs suspect fled from police and threw something into a nearby river.

Darren Crawford put his hand to his mouth and appeared to be choking after officers told him he was to be searched for drugs.

He then broke free, ran over a nearby bridge, and threw a golf-ball sized item into the Gala Water.

Crawford, 30, of Lothian Street, admitted obstructing police officers in Galashiels on May 15, removing an item from his mouth, and throwing it into the Gala Water.

Prosecutor Tessa Bradley told Selkirk Sheriff Court how two plain clothes police officers on patrol saw the accused get off a bus in Currie Road. They approached him and told him to stop, but he turned away and continued walking.

“They caught up with him and stood in front of him,” continued Ms Bradley. “He appeared anxious and tried to walk away again.”

When Crawford was told he was being searched, he put his hand to his mouth and started choking.

“One officer went to grab him but he broke free and ran towards Ladhope Vale,” explained Ms Bradley, “with the officers pursuing him on foot.

“As he went over the bridge he threw what he had taken from his mouth – which was almost the size of a golf ball – into the river.”

Police caught up with him and he was handcuffed, telling them: “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that, I panicked. It was just a bit of bud.”

Sheriff Peter Paterson deferred sentence for three months, until November 10 for Crawford to be of good behaviour.

He had earlier placed Crawford on a two-year Drug Treatment and Testing Order after he admitted possession of cannabis resin and diamorphine in Glendinning Terrace, Galashiels, on March 6.

The sheriff warned Crawford: “You have a serious record, and this is very much your last chance, or you will end up in jail.”